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Joint Angle Estimation Method for Wearable Human Motion Capture

This thesis presents a method for estimating the positions of human limbs during motion that can be applied to wearable, textile-based sensors. The method was validated for the elbow and shoulder joints with data from two garments with resistive, thread-based sensors sewn into the garments at multiple locations. The proposed method was able to estimate the elbow joint position with an average error of 2.2 degrees. The method also produced an average difference in Euclidean distance of 3.7 degrees for the estimated shoulder joint position using data from nine sensors placed around the subject's shoulder. The most accurate combination of sensors on the shoulder garment was found to produce an average difference in distance of 3.4 degrees and used only six sensors. The characteristics of the resistive, thread-based sensor used to validate the method are also detailed as some of their behaviors proved to affect the accuracy of the method negatively. / Master of Science / Human motion capture systems gather data on the position of the human body during motion. The data is then used to recreate and analyze the motion digitally. There is a need for motion capture devices capable of measuring long-term data on human motion, especially in physical therapy. However, the currently available motion capture systems have limitations that make long-term or daily use either impossible or uncomfortable. This thesis presents a method that uses data from wearable, textile-based sensors to estimate the positions of human limbs during motion. Two garments were used to validate the method on the elbow and shoulder joints. The proposed method was able to measure the elbow and shoulder joints with an average accuracy that is within the acceptable range for clinical settings.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/103629
Date27 May 2021
CreatorsRedhouse, Amanda Jean
ContributorsElectrical and Computer Engineering, Martin, Thomas L., Jones, Mark T., Abbott, A. Lynn
PublisherVirginia Tech
Source SetsVirginia Tech Theses and Dissertation
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeThesis
FormatETD, application/pdf, application/pdf, application/pdf
RightsIn Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

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